Jimmy Heggarty stormed in amidst the gathering dusk at Tullamore last night to snatch a share of the lead after the local clubs' annual pro-am tournament. Jimmy Bolger had sat on top of the leaderboard for hours at level par 70 but that score was matched by Heggarty.

Des Smyth flew into Cork from Celtic Manor in Wales to top the leaderboard after the Motorola pro-am at Little Island - a tournament that finished in darkness because of the bulging field.

Brendan McGovern again shot to the top of the leaderboard after the Killester Travel pro-am tournament at Greenore, the curtain-raiser to the 36-holes PGA Challenge event there this week.

Eddie Doyle and Jimmy Heggarty turned in a hot finish at Rosslare to match the sunshine and share the honours after the Senator Windows pro-am tournament.

Philip Walton put in a stroming finish at sunny Castlerock when he carded a two-under-par 71 to snatch the overnight lead in the first round of the £110,000 Smurfit PGA Irish Region Championship.

Smurfit PGA Irish championship qualifier at Seapoint

Eddie Doyle, from The Heath Golf Club in Co Laois, upstaged the European

European Tour player Des Smyth leaped into the lead after the first day's